Improvement in table-cutlery



.I. W. GARDNER.

Table-Cutlery.

N0,]50,560 I Patented May 5,1874.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orrron.

JOSEPH W. GARDNER, OF SHELBURNE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TABLE-CUTLERV.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,560, dated May 5, 1874; application filed April 27,1874.

CASE B.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osEPH W. GARDNER, of Shelburne Falls, in the county of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Table-Cutlery, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists of a spring-guard for carving-forks, so constructed and applied to the fork as to serve both as a guard and as a support for the fork when in use, as hereinafter more fully described.

Figure l is a side view of the fork prepared to have the guard attached. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the fork with the guard applied, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the fork and guard complete.

As usually constructed, the guard of carv-.

in g-forks consists of a single bar of metal pivoted at one end in a recess made in the shank of the fork with a spring underneath in the recess. This is difficult to make and to clean when used, and the spring is apt soon to rust out, or otherwise become defective. To remedy these objections is the object ofm ypresent invention, and to accomplish this lproceed as follows:

Having constructed the tongs and shank of the fork in the usual manner,'I then form on each side of the shank A two grooves, 0 and c, as shown in Fig. 1,the groove obeingformed at right angles to the shank, while the other grooveeismade oblique, as representedin Figs. 1 and 3. At the point where the two grooves intersect each other, I drill a small hole transversely through the shank A for the reception of a pin, 1, on which the guard is pivoted, as'

shown in Fig. 2. The guard B consists of a slender piece of steel, bent in the'form of a staple with its sides curved, so as to be nearest together at the center, as shown in Fig. 2, its other portions being rendered ornamental in any desired manner. On the inner faces of the two legs, as it were, of this guard, at small hole is formed to receive the ends of the pin 1, and by whichit is held in place, the pin forming a journal or pivot, on which the guard turns. This guard B is made of steel, and is of such a width that when it is placed astride of the shank A it will spring into the notches or grooves, and thus remain fixed in position in whichever of the grooves it may rest. When it is to be used the guard is turned up, so as to rest in the grooves o, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which position it serves as a guard, and at the same time the portion that extends below the shank serves as a rest or feet, on which it is supported, as represented in Fig. 3, thus obviating the necessity of using a separate rest, and keeping the fork from soiling the table-cloth.

When not in use the guard B is turned down, so as to rest in the grooves e, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the spring of the sidebars being sufficient to hold it secure in either position. To render the guard more secure when in use, I propose to make the rear sides of the grooves 0 above the pivot at rightangles laterally to the shank, so as to afford a secure support for the guard, and prevent it from being accidently pushed over backward.

.It is obvious the pin I may be extended entirely through the side bars if prepared; or

that the bars may each be provided with a short journal or point to lit in the hole instead of using the pin, in which case the hole need not extend all the way through.

By these means I simplify and cheapen the construction of the fork, and provide a guard that also serves as a rest.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The guard B, constructed substantially as described, whereby it is made to clasp the shank between its prongs, as set forth.

2. A fork having its shank provided with the grooves o e, in combination with the guard B, constructed to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

JOSEPH W. GARDNER. Witnesses:

F. A. BALL, HIRAM ()(SMITH. 

